Raikkonen insists his 'motivation is intact'

Kimi Raikkonen has once again stressed that his motivation is not an issue in 2014 and predicts a return to form for Ferrari by the end of the season.

Raikkonen has failed to finish higher than seventh since his highly-anticipated return to Ferrari, but when asked about it earlier this season he memorably said his struggles with the F14 T had "fuck all" to do with motivation. Raikkonen's desire to race in F1 has been a lingering topic of discussion since he walked away from the sport in 2009 after claiming just one win for Ferrari.

"I have more experience compared to when I won the title and I am a few years older but I don't feel it and I still have a great desire to race," Raikkonen told Ferrari's official website. "As I've said [before], we are doing an incredible amount of work and I think we will sort out our problems, but you need time. If we manage it before the end of the season the results will come because my motivation is intact."

But Raikkonen confirmed he is thinking about life after F1, however, with a return to rallying probable.

"As for rallying? Certainly I would like to do more of it but for now I'm completely focused on Formula 1."

Raikkonen also thinks Ferrari can be in a position to challenge Mercedes by the end of the season despite the large gap between the two teams at the moment.

"I think it is very difficult for anyone to battle with the Mercedes drivers but you never know. I would like it to be us even if that will be hard, especially for me personally, given the position in the championship. But I have always been used to fighting and together with the team, which is still hard at work on the development of the F14 T, I hope to be able to get some good results."